Chapter Text
Galinda is at Elphaba's back, spooning her.
They’ve been sleeping like this for a while. Elphaba is too weak to put a stop to it.
Most days Galinda wakes up first, but today is the weekend, and no clock that only affects Galinda goes off.
Elphaba yawns. She tries to get out of bed too, but Galinda clings to her much like a koala would. Maybe someday she’ll have the restraint to not think it’s cute.
Instead she grabs her phone. A photo of them cuddling is on the lockscreen. Galinda has a similar one of a different night. It elicits a cocktail of feelings that she knows better than to dissect.
She checks her university email, her upcoming assignments, her calendar – a redundant reminder of Galinda’s upcoming birthday next Saturday – her text messages, her dad’s hatred, her sister’s backhanded love, the photo Galinda snapped of her cuddling an asleep Elphaba last night that makes her heart clench, her daily rewards of that mobile game she should delete.
Eventually, Galinda yawns too. In a way she knows should be gross, but one Elphaba still can’t think of as anything other than cute. “Are you doom scrolling again?”
She turns off her phone. “No.”
Galinda hums, disbelieving, before wrapping her arms tighter around Elphaba’s waist. “We should cuddle.”
They are already cuddling.
“We should study for Friday’s—” Galinda’s thumb starts stroking her hip bone, and Elphaba’s breath hitches, “test. I want to be able to prepare for your birthday next Saturday.”
“Well, it’s my birthday Elphie, and I want to cuddle.”
Elphaba sighs. “You’ll have to study eventually.”
“I know, I know.” Galinda giggles. “But a few more minutes can’t hurt.”
‘A few more minutes’ has always been code for an hour. At least. They do study after ‘breakfast’ though.
“I just don’t get it, Elphie.” Galinda whines, before slumping and letting her head rest on Elphaba’s shoulder. “I’m not cut out for this. Maybe I should have just done business, like Popsie and Momsicle always wanted.”
Elphaba doesn’t point out Galinda’s switchup.
Instead she pats her friend’s side. “I’m glad you didn’t do business. Meeting you is the best thing that’s happened to me.” She takes a deep breath. Swallows words that should remain unsaid. “Let me see.”
Galinda whines when Elphaba moves to look at the Blonde’s notes and ends up pushing Galinda off her shoulder. Her heart flutters. She pretends it doesn’t.
“Oh, it’s your coordinate system. The axes should be labeled anti-clockwise.”
Galinda groans. Long, loud, exaggerated. Galinda. “That matters?”
“When you’re taking cross products it does.”
“Ugh, I hate cross products.” Galinda flops onto Elphaba’s shoulder again.
Elphaba chuckles. “We just have to stick it out for a few more months, then we’ll actually get to observe something.”
“I can’t wait.” Galinda lets out a dreamy sigh.
Part of Elphaba agrees. The other part is scared by the intimacy of it.
“How’d the test go?” Fiyero asks his girlfriend, Galinda.
Galinda nods. “It went well.”
Her thousand yard stare says otherwise.
Fiyero notices it too, but doesn’t push. Instead, he also nods. “Mine did too.”
Elphaba dislikes third-wheeling them in general. She likes third-wheeling them in their awkward silences even less.
Galinda flops down onto their bed – technically it’s Elphaba’s, but after they put their beds together the distinction has lost its meaning. “I don’t think I passed, Elphie.”
Galinda’s voice almost breaks, but Elphaba’s heart does.
Laying down next to her, Elphaba takes hold of Galinda’s hand and entwines their fingers. The action makes her feel guilty, but her motives are more than just ulterior.
“The words on the test, they – they just blurred together, and I froze.” Sighing, Galinda rolls over. On top of Elphaba. Her heart starts beating in her throat, and her arms wrap around her friend. “I couldn’t even finish.” Galinda nestles further into her, and Elphaba lets one of her arms pet Galinda’s back. “I’m just not cut out for this.”
What to say, she doesn’t know. “You care. That matters.” Is what she settles on.
A wet chuckle. “You’re just saying that Elphie.”
“I’m not. You love astronomy, you try to play it down but I can tell.” She takes a deep breath, raking her nails through Galinda’s hair. Galinda feigns annoyance, because heavens forbid anyone touch her hair. “You care so much, that passion is worth more than being able to walk into the exam room and ace every test.”
“But in the end my grades are what matters.”
“To an extent.” Elphaba’s nails scratch a particular spot, and Galinda lets out a content hum. “But grades aren’t everything. I need you to see that. Need you to see that your passion is beautiful.” Her hand almost stills at the slipup, and the tips of Galinda’s ears burn red.
Elphaba fakes a cough after a few seconds. “Yeah, so, that.”
Galinda giggles.
On Saturday – Galinda’s birthday – Elphaba wakes up earlier again. This time, she doesn’t let herself get trapped by Galinda’s koala hold. Instead shuffling around in Galinda’s arms until she’s facing the other woman, before trying to wake her up.
“Galinda?”
Nothing.
Shaking her friend’s body, she tries again. “Galinda.”
Still nothing.
She turns around, grabbing her backup plan in the alarm that Galinda always uses. Some sort of remix of chicken noises. Before she can though, Galinda’s arms tighten around her, and she is, once again, trapped.
“Go to sleep, Elphie. I want to cuddle.” Her heartbeat still speeds up, even though Galinda’s words aren’t very surprising. Half-asleep Galinda is shameless.
“You’re awake?”
Galinda yawns. “No.”
Snorting, she chuckles a little.
“Shut up.” Galinda’s koala grip strikes again, but this time Elphaba is facing her, and ends up with her face in her friend’s neck. Even without, or especially without her perfume, Galinda still smells amazing. Though less palatable and more something Elphaba loves just because it's Galinda’s.
“Oh my god, Elphie, it’s beautiful.”
‘It’ is a dark green beret.
The inkling of guilt she feels is snuffed out as Galinda’s arms wrap around her. “You should wear a pink one of mine. We’ll match.” Galinda tilts her head to the side in question, which means they now have headaches. “It’ll be a little ugly, but that’s okay.”
“Where are we going Elphie?” Galinda whines.
They’ve been walking a while, over cobbles and pavement, in their concrete city.
Chuckling, Elphaba smiles. “Patience Galinda, we’re almost there.”
Detaching herself from Elphaba’s arm, Galinda punches her in her side. It doesn’t hurt. “You’re not Madame Morrible Elphie.” She groans.
Elphaba laughs. Open, genuine, in a way she never did before Galinda. “We’re here.”
“Wait, what?” Galinda looks around and gapes. They’re in their city’s local park. “I thought you said you’d never put on roller skates.” Turning to look at Elphaba: “You are putting them on right?”
Smiling, she sets down her backpack, taking two sets of roller skates out. Galinda’s strawberry pink set that matches with her everything, and Elphaba’s own simple black set. And knee pads, and elbow pads, and gloves and helmets too. Galinda starts laughing halfway through.
“Don’t worry Elphie, I won’t let you fall.” She comes up behind Elphaba, wrapping arms around her waist. “I’ll be your knight without shining armor.”
Elphaba has accepted that she will die of a heart attack one of these days. Not today though.
Galinda’s hands are gripping her waist, helping her stay upright and in place. A smile on her face makes Elphaba’s heart beat faster than it already did. Her brown eyes richer than any food could ever be.
“Are you even listening, Elphie?” Galinda frowns.
Smiling, she can feel the green of her cheeks deepen. “I’m sorry, it’s a little difficult to focus on these stilts.” Lifting one of them, she almost faceplants. Galinda has to let her fall into her shoulder to keep her from hitting the concrete.
Galinda tuts. “Elphie.”
“Sorry.”
“It’s alright.” Galinda starts absentmindedly moving her thumb. Elphaba’s spring clothes do nothing to stop her from feeling it. “Well, you should probably start with moving and stopping.”
“Why aren’t you clapping?” Galinda feigns arrogance. “That was impressive. You should clap.”
Elphaba just gapes. “I didn’t know you could do that.”
“That’s what you get for being too scared to watch me practice all this time.”
Groaning, Elphaba shakes her head.
“You know what, I’ll do it again.”
“No, no, once was enough, I don’t want you to fall.”
Galinda just grins. “I won’t fall.”
Spinning on a stopper, Galinda turns around and enters the bowl again. She’s listening to music, an unmistakable sense of rhythm to her movements.
After building speed, Galinda returns to where Elphaba is resting from Galinda’s gruelling practice. Launching herself up the edge, one leg before the other, Galinda does a cartwheel midair, landing back on her skates.
She claps this time. Galinda smirks back, and her stomach does a backflip not dissimilar from Galinda’s stunt.
A few seconds more, and Galinda slides to a stop in front of her, panting a little. “So, what did you think?”
“Very impressive cartwheel.” She nods.
Galinda grabs one of Elphaba’s hands in both of her own. “Really? It’s called an aerial by the way.”
“Yes. Please don’t do ‘an aerial’ again.”
“Thanks Elphie.” Setting aside Elphaba’s concern, she raises Elphaba’s hand and does a pirouette with it.
Elphaba’s heart is in her throat again, and not just from concern.
They return home a little after lunch time. Despite the sandwiches Elphaba prepared in advance to eat during their outing, they’re still hungry. So she makes some more, and Galinda flops down on their couch.
“You could pick out a movie? I don’t have anything planned for the afternoon.”
Galinda grins. Elphaba can’t see it, her back turned to the other woman, but she can hear it in her voice. “So you do have something planned for the evening?”
“Maybe.”
“What? Elphie,” the adoration in Galinda’s voice makes her heart skip a beat, “you shouldn’t have.” Galinda pauses. “Well, I’m glad you did, but I’ve been wanting to teach you to skate forever now–” A thought halts her friend in her tracks. “You are letting me teach you again, right?”
Elphaba sighs. Skating is scary. “Yes.”
“Yippee!” Galinda pumps a fist. “But so, I’ve been wanting to do that for a while, and today has already been amazing. Especially if you’re letting me choose a movie.” Even if she had tried, Elphaba doubts Galinda could have hid her bad intentions. “I guess what I’m trying to say is that you’re kind of spoiling me.”
“You want to be spoiled.”
“What? Well, maybe, but–” Galinda groans. “Alright Elphie, you caught me, I do want to be spoiled. Happy?”
She’s smirking. “Very.” The sandwiches are finished, so she grabs her gift and joins Galinda on their couch. She blinks and Galinda’s knees have been pulled up into Elphaba’s lap with Galinda’s arm wrapped around her shoulder, fingers twirling Elphaba’s hair.
This always happens.
“Is it over yet?”
Elphaba feels Galinda shake her head above her. “No. Johnny here is still being brutally murdered.”
“Galinda!”
Galinda just laughs and starts petting her back again. Elphaba’s chest warms. “Sorry, your reactions are just too adorable.”
She groans. “I’m never letting you pick a movie again.”
“There’s always next year.”
Part of her is going to miss Galinda doting on her after her friend’s teasing. The other part of her knows she needs to move on from Galinda.
Galinda, who has a boyfriend.
Galinda’s hand is on top of her own holding the gear stick.
They’ve been driving for a while now. Elphaba has already needed to refill their gas tank, though it had been fairly empty when they left.
Galinda is belting the Taylor Swift tracks Elphaba usually bans. If she didn't, Galinda would never sing anything else, and Elphaba doesn’t want repetition to kill her love for Galinda’s voice.
Right now Elphaba herself is singing too. Galinda made demands and Elphaba is in love.
Another song finishes, and she spots the sign for their exit. Galinda doesn’t know that though.
“Wait, no!” Galinda snaps her neck to look at her, disbelief in her voice.
Smile on her face, Elphaba nods. “Yes.”
Galinda’s hand leaves hers for a moment, clapping in excitement. “Oh my god,” before returning right back, “you’re the best friend anyone could ask for.” An ear-splitting grin is on her friend’s face as Galinda drives a stake through her heart.
“I love you Elphie.”
She ends up having to carry the heart plushie Galinda wins ‘for their friendship’. It still fits in their bag though, so it’s not that bad. Galinda herself is holding the cotton candy they’ve both been snacking from.
“I want to go on the Emerald Eye.” Galinda says after finishing another bite of the cotton candy.
“The what?”
Groaning, Galinda takes another bite. Elphaba should find Galinda talking with her mouth full gross. She doesn’t. “It’s the ferris wheel.”
“Oh well excuse me,” raising her hand to her chest for dramatic effect, she continues, tone playful, “I wasn’t aware not knowing the name of every attraction in a fair that’s an hour drive from where I live was such a crime.”
Galinda punches her again. It still doesn’t hurt.
“The Emerald City is a cultural wonder, Elphie.” Galinda’s voice is serious and Elphaba shouldn’t find it cute.
Chuckling, she asks: “What does that even mean?”
Galinda snorts.“I have no idea.”
“Oh my god.” Now laughing, Elphaba facepalms.
Galinda is giggling. “Shut up, do you want to get punched again?”
“No,” like a fool, she keeps laughing, “no, spare me, please.”
Galinda doesn’t punch her though, wrapping her free arm around Elphaba’s instead. It’s a struggle to keep the green of her cheeks from darkening as they wait in the long queue for the ‘Emerald Eye’. Galinda hums along to the music booming across the fair, while doing everything to keep Elphaba from forgetting how much Galinda adores physical touch. It’s torture.
They don’t say much, and there isn’t much to say. Galinda throws away the finished cotton candy at some point, and that’s basically all that happens. Just a comfortable silence as the sun creeps closer and closer to the horizon.
By the time it’s their turn, the whole fair is covered in a golden glow. The sunrays are losing their warmth but they still have each other's to keep the cold away.
A bored teenager is doing tickets. “With the couple’s discount, you can get the second ticket for half price.
Elphaba’s chuckle is forced. “Oh, no we are not–” Galinda elbows her. “Ow.”
“What my girlfriend,” Galinda wraps an arm around her side, resting a hand too low on her hip to be appropriate for friends, “is trying to say is ‘We are more than greedy enough to take this discount,’ so we’ll be taking the 50% off on the second ticket.”
Galinda’s own customer service smile leaves the actual customer service unimpressed. “Okay.”
Taking out her card, Elphaba pays for the tickets. Today has been taking a toll on her bank account, but it’s alright. Galinda’s infectious joy is warmer than the sun.
“Thank you.” Galinda gives the kid a little bow, which means Elphaba is forced into one too.
‘Personal space’ has never been a concept Galinda understood, but even with that in mind it’s difficult to rationalize any of this. There is not an inch of space between them when they sit down in the cabin. Their new plushy on one side, them on the other. Galinda lasts no time at all before she leans her head onto Elphaba’s.
The view.
The view is wonderful. The fair’s light’s becoming more prominent with the sinking sun.
The view is pink, blonde, wearing a dark green beret. Brown eyes, content smile, and sitting far too close to Elphaba.
The view’s head turns, and Galinda’s lips are an inch away from hers. Brown eyes flicking down to elphaba’s dark green lips.
The view’s cheeks turn a little red.
Galinda’s hand rests on top of her own on the way back too. Neither of them are belting Taylor Swift. Exhaustion has shown itself capable of defeating even Galinda. Elphaba had coffee.
They’re still playing music, though more quiet and atmospheric. Words have been said but neither of them have spoken since the ferris wheel.
It’s still not awkward. Stuff like this happens.
They’re over halfway back before the music is interrupted.
“Thank you.”
Elphaba doesn’t take her eyes off the road. “Hmm?”
“For today, you know?” Sighing, Galinda continues. “I never thought birthdays could be so fun. Back home it’s all family of family and shaking hands the entire day.”
Elphaba chuckles. “I’m glad to be of service.”
“No really, thank you Elphie.” Galinda squeezes her hand. “I don’t think I’ll ever forget this day you gave me.”
Her exhaustion prevents her from suppressing the flush that paints on her cheeks. “I – I don’t think I ever will either.”
Not just for the reasons you think.